William Mordaunt Marsh Edwards

For other people named William Edwards, see William Edwards (disambiguation).

William Mordaunt Marsh Edwards
Depiction of the battle of Tel-el-Kebir
Born	7 May 1855 Hardingham, Norfolk
Died	17 September 1912 Hardingham
Buried at	St George's Churchyard, Hardingham
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Major
Unit	74th Highlanders Highland Light Infantry
Battles/wars	1882 Anglo-Egyptian War
Awards	Victoria Cross
Other work	Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms

Major William Mordaunt Marsh Edwards, VC, DL (7 May 1855 – 17 September 1912) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Edwards was the son and heir of Henry William Bartholomew, of Hardingham Hall, Norfolk. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He did not take a degree at Cambridge, but was gazetted in 1876 and joined 74th Highlanders in 1877.

Details

Edwards was 27 years old, and a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry, British Army during the British occupation of Egypt when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 13 September 1882 at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt, Lieutenant Edwards led a party of the Highland Light Infantry to storm a redoubt. The lieutenant who was in advance of his party, rushed alone into the battery, killed the artillery officer in charge and was himself knocked down by a gunner with a rammer and was rescued only by the timely arrival of three men of his regiment.

He later achieved the rank of major and was appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Norfolk.

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Norfolk)
• William Mordaunt Marsh Edwards at Find a Grave